Alice Ball
1892–1916 — USA
Era: Modern
Brilliance: 7/10 | Stewardship: 8/10 | Composite Index: 56
Developed the most effective leprosy treatment. Died at 24. A man took credit.
"The treatment must be both effective and accessible to those who suffer most."
Biography
Alice Ball was an African American chemist who developed the Ball Oil Treatment, revolutionizing leprosy care in the early 20th century. Her innovative method using chaulmoogra oil became the standard treatment worldwide until antibiotics emerged. Despite her groundbreaking work, her mentor Arthur Dean claimed credit for her discovery, and she died of chlorine gas poisoning at just 24, largely forgotten by history.
Key Facts
- Developed the Ball Oil Treatment in 1915, the most effective leprosy cure for decades
- First African American woman to earn a master's degree in chemistry from UC Berkeley
- Her treatment remained the standard leprosy therapy until sulfone drugs were introduced in the 1940s
- Died in 1916 from chlorine gas poisoning contracted during chemistry work
- Her contributions were largely uncredited until historian Alondra Nelson's research restored her legacy in 2000
She cured leprosy at 23. A man stole it. She died at 24.
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